Stawell residents accessing free Wi-Fi

VISITORS to Stawell have been enjoying the opportunity to log on and check out business activity, with the launch of the Northern Grampians Shire Council's free public Wi-Fi service.

VISITORS to Stawell have been enjoying the opportunity to log on and check out business activity, with the launch of the Northern Grampians Shire Council's free public Wi-Fi service.

Lynette Healy and Maree Dobson learn how to log onto the free Wi-Fi from Shelly Chalmers.

The launch of the Northern Grampians Shire Council initiative followed several years of planning.

Although accessibility is limited to cafe and bakery businesses at this stage, there are plans to roll the Wi-Fi out to all participating businesses in the future.

The businesses that already have public Wi-Fi available are recognised by the Free Public Wi-Fi sticker displayed prominently in their front window.

The benefits to having the public Wi-Fi include motivation for visitors to stop and explore the town and being recognised as a forward-thinking town, where new ideas and technology are welcomed.

It also gives customers an opportunity to work wirelessly, check their email and social media accounts and communicate with family, friends and colleagues. There is no charge to participating businesses to join the public Wi-Fi service.

Businesses must sign a user agreement with Northern Grampians Shire Council and must make available the password to customers when requested.

The username will always remain the same (NGSHIREWIFI).

Northern Grampians Shire Council is emailing out a password each week for businesses to make available for their customers.

The password will also be published on a weekly basis in the Stawell Times-News.

The password will always be required to access the Wi-Fi services.

Wi-Fi is a technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data or connect to the internet wirelessly using microwaves in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Many devices can use Wi-Fi, including smart phones, personal computers, video game consoles, some digital cameras, iPods, tablet computers and digital audio players. These can connect to a network resource such as the Internet via a wireless network access point. Such an access point has a range of about 20 metres indoors and a greater range outdoors.

McLachlan is the password for accessing the Northern Grampians Shire's free Wi-Fi this week.